Neck adjuster for banjos



Dec. 16, 1930. w. L.. LANGE NECK ADJUSTER FOR BANJos Filed July l1, 1929 35 55 50' f 2l f I ,12 /J W22 12 if f jf :Fg i I 20 fu@ 12.8 I 35 f ll l l l i i l i z-J L l 2'; W e 1T a 36 f "f 172,74

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Patented Dec. 16, 1930 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM L. LANGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

NECK ADJUSTER non BANJos Application led July 11, 1929. Serial No. 377,376.

rIhis invention relates to improvements in y banjos and similar stringed instruments, and it consists in the novel features, which are hereinafter more fully described. 6 'One of the objects of my invention is to provide a means .for adjusting the neck of a banjo with relation to the main body thereof in a more perfect way than has been done f heretofore.

Another object of my invention-is to have said adjustment both in a vertical plane and in a horizontal plane when said banjo is horizontal.

A further object of my invention is to have 15 said horizontal and vertical adjustments pivoted near the pointof attachment of the` strings of the banjo, wherebythe said strings may not be adversely affected or their tuning disturbed by the said adjustment.

A still other object is to have my said imp roved banjo simple, durable and inexpensive.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear. Y

I attaintheseobjects by the banjo, one form of'which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings or by any mechanical equivalent yor obvious modification of the same.

In the drawings,

i Fig. 1 is a central vertical section of my improved'ba'njo when in its horizontal position on lthe line 1 1 of Fig. 2, showing part of the inner end of the neck thereof in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my improved banjo;

.Fig 3 is .a fragmentary bottom view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of a 40 detail showing the adjustments of my improved banjo; j

Fig. 5 is a kdetail in section on the line 5 5 of Figs. 1, looking in the direction vof the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a detail view in perspective of a part, which is hereinafter described; and

Fig. 7 is a detail in section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3.

Like numerals refer-to like parts `through- .60 `out the several views-r 11 designates the inner wood rim of my improved banjo, 12 designates the tone ring, 13 the vellum ring and 14 the strain ring thereof.

The vellum 15 is `stretched over said tone ring 12, and vthe periphery or' edge of said vellum 15 is deflected over ksaid vellum ring 13 and stretched by said strain ring 14.

Hooks '16, which are shown in Figs. 7 and 3, are bearing down with their upper hooked ends on'said strain ring 14 and have their lower ends secured by means of nuts 17 to brackets 18, which are secured to said inner rim 11 by means of screws 19, whereby the vellum 15 is kept stretched.

A tail piece 2O is shown in Fig. l as having secured to the inner end thereof the lower ends of-the strings 21; said inner end is bent over the Lsaid strain ring 14 and the edge of the Vellum 15 into the plane of the'lower end of said strings 21 below the bridge 22; the 70 outer end of said tail piece is shown in Fig.

1 as substantially parallel to the section of said inner rim 11 in Fig. 1 on the side thereof, which is remote from the neck 23, and secured to said rim 11 by means of an off-set vscrew 24. 'Io

An .angular bracket 25 is shown in Figs. l and3 as secured at the outer iiange thereof to the inner periphery of said rim 11 at the lower part thereof by means of screws 26 and the inner flange of said bracket v25 is connected by means .of Van inclined feed screw 27 to the lower end of a dowel 28, which forms an eX- tension of said neck 23.

' An opening 29 is provided in the upper part of said rim 11, to permit said dowel 28 loosely to pass therethrough; a U-shaped tapered stirrup 30, which is shown in perspec- ,tive in Fig. l6, is secured to said dowel 28 by means of a y'screw 31 and washer 32; the tapered side of the stirrup 30 is inclined rearwardly and downwardly with relation to the banjo, as shown in 1, and the inclined side thereof is iny contact with the ends of a pin 33, which passes through said dowel 28, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and is secured 95 thereto.

The upper side of said lstirrup 30 bears against the inner periphery of said rim 11 at the lower end of said neck 23; and said screw 31 ris threaded into said washer A32, 10o

whereby said stirrup 30 may be moved towards the front and rear of the banjo with relation to said dowel 28, as shown in Fig. l, thereby raising and lowering said dowel 28 and said neck 23 with relation to said rim l1, following or preceding an adjustment by said inclined screw 27, which is also threaded into the flange of said bracket 25.

A wing plate 33 is shown in Figs. 1 and l as secured by means of screws 3a to said neck at the lower end thereof in a suitable recess 35 provided therein for that purpose above and forwardly of said dowel 28 with relation to the other parts of the banjo; said plate 33 has thereon a pair of wings 36, which arc laterally disposed thereto and to said neck 23 and are adjustably connected to said strain ring` 14 by means of a pair of feed screws 37, which are threaded in said wings 36 and are bearing at their ends against a plate 3S which is secured by welding or in any7 other suitable manner to the outer periphery of said ring 11i at said neck 23.

It is evident that by means of said screws 37 the neck 23 may be angularly adjusted in the plane of the banjo around said screw 27 as a pivot; and by means of said screw 3l and stirrup 30, combined with said screw 27, the neck 23 may be translatably and angularly adjusted with relation to the rim ll and 'vellum l5 in a plane transverse to the banjo; to wit: it may be raised or lowered on the banjo, also turned on a point at said screw 27 as a pivot; the screw 27 fits loosely in the lower end of said dowel 28, to permit the above adjustment.

Variations are possible and parts of my invention may be used withoutY other parts.

I do not, therefore, restrict myself to the details as shown; but I intend to include also all mechanical equivalents and obvious modiications of the same within the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l.. In a banjo and the like an inner rim, a neck, a dowel forming an extension of said neck adustably pivotally connected at the lower end thereof to said rim at a point near the part of said rim, which is remote from said neck, and a means for turning said neck in the plane of said rim around said point as a pivot, thereby adjusting the angular position of said neck with relation to said rim in a plane parallel to the latter.

2, In a banjo and the like an inner rim, a neck, a dowel forming an extension of said neck, an angular bracket, secured to the inner periphery of said rim at the part thereof, which is remote from said neck, a means for adjustably pivotally connecting the lower end of said dowel'to said bracket at a point near said part, and a means for adjustably turning said neck in the plane of said rim around said point as a pivot, thereby adjusting the angular position of said neck with relation to said rim in a plane parallel to the latter.

3. In a banjo and the like an inner rim, a neck, a dowelforming an extension of said neck, pivotally connected at the lower end thereof to said rim at a point near the part of saidrim, which is remote from said neck, a means for turning said neck in the plane of said rim around said point as a pivot, thereby'adjusting the angular position of said neck with relation to said rim in a plane parallel thereto, and an inclined feed screw at the pivotal connection of said dowel, whereby the lower end thereof may be raised and lowered and valso moved forwardly and rearwardly with relation to said rim. i

et. In a banjo and the like an inner rim, a neck, a dowel forming an extension of said neck, pivotally connected at the lower end thereof to said iim at a point near the part of said rim, which is remote from said neck, a means for turning said neck in the plane of said rim around said point as a pivot, thereby adjusting the angular position of said neck with relation to said rim in a plane parallel thereto, and a tapered member adjustably secured to said dowel near the upper end thereof, to bear against the part of the inner periphery of said rim at said neck, thereby adjustably securing said neck in position with relation to said rim.

5. In a banjo and the like an inner rim, a neck, a dowel` forming an extension of said neck, adjustably pivotally vconnected at the lower end thereof to said rim near the part of the rim, which is remote from said neck, a means for turning said neck in the plane of said rim around said point as a pivot, thereby adjusting the angular position of said neck with relation to said rim in a plane parallel thereto, and a means for turning said neck in a plane positioned transversely to said rim around said point as a pivot, thereby adjusting the' angular position of said neck with relation to said'rim in a plane positioned transversely to said rim, said pivotal connection being arranged to permit the turning of said neck around said point in said transverse to' each other planes.

6. In a banjo and the like an inner rim, a neck, a dowel forming an extension of said neck, pivotally connected at the lower end thereof to said rim near the part of said rim, which is remote from said neck, a means for turning said neck in the plane of said rim around said point as a pivot, thereby adjusting the angular position of said neck with relation to said rim in a plane parallel thereto, a tapered member, adjustably secured to said dowel near the upper end thereof, to bear against the part of the inner periphery of said rim at said neck, and a means for adjustably connecting said tapered member to said dowel, thereby adjustably securing said neck in position with relation to said rim.

7. In a banjo and the like an inner rim, a neck, a dowel forming an extension of said neck, pivotally connected at the lower end thereof to said rim near the part of said rim, which is remote from said neck, a means for turning said neck in the plane ofsaid rim around said point as a pivot, thereby adjusting the angular position of said neck with relation to said rim in a plane parallel, thereto, a tapered member, adjustably secured to said dowel near the upper end thereof, to bear against the part of the inner periphery of said rim at said neck, and a feed screw in engagement with said dowel, for adjustably connecting said tapered member to said dowel, thereby adjustably securing said neck is position with relation to said rim.

8. In a banjo and the like an inner rim,'a neck, a dowel forming an extension of said neck, pivotally connected at the lower end thereof to said rim at a point near the part of said rim, which is remote from said neck, a means for turning said neck in the plane of said rim around said point as a pivot, thereby adjusting the angular position of said neck with relation to said rim in aplane parallel thereto, and a U-shaped tapered member, straddling said dowel and adjustably secured thereto near the upper end thereof, to bear against the part of the inner periphery of said rim at said neck, thereby adjustably securing said neck in position with relation to said rim. v

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 10th day of July A. D. 1929.

WILLIAM L. LANGE. 

